Crane at Mirror Pond dam to pull turbine parts

(Update: Comment from utility official on efficiency effort)

Pacific Power moved a large crane into place Monday morning at its more than century-old hydroelectric dam in downtown Bend to remove some parts from one of its turbines, a company spokesman said.

The maintenance work won’t increase flows through the dam, Tom Gauntt said, “and the level of Mirror Pond will remain within the normal operating range.”

“This work is part of the regular periodic refurbishment for the hydro power plant,” Gauntt said in an email to NewsChannel 21.

The dam is having components of one of its turbines removed to improve efficiency.

According to Matthew Chancellor, the Pacific Power regional business manager for Central Oregon, the electricity that is generated by the hydroelectric dam is an important source of power for the community.

“This hydro facility generates 1.1 megawatts of generation, and that can serve roughly about 800 homes,” Chancellor said.

Chancellor added that the dam is crucial for generating electricity in Central Oregon.

“A diversified system with generation is always good,” Chancellor said. “Hydro is carbon-free, and very green, and that is important for the environment.”

The first phase of the work is expected to take just one day. Next month, the crane will be brought back to put the refurbished components in place, Gauntt said.